MVR 2-17-16

Race 1 – Despite being outrun twice at short odds #6 SKIP ROYALE flashes the early running style that should put away the maiden vets in here. The first time starter shows nothing special. dull third of six; regressing

Race 2 – #3 DREAMING OF KITTEN left way too much to do before chasing #2 COSIDESERVIT home in January. The return from Turfway of #4 SEA COVE should guarantee some pace for this black sheep daughter of Kitten’s Joy. well beaten second to COSIDERSERVIT who after the fact appears to be much the best of the pair

Race 3 – #6 NO FREE LUNCH is tempting. He may have needed some time away from the race track and some friendlier competition. At Parx purses for those $8k claimers were an attractive $26,000 but you have to be good to cash. His sporadic works have been OK. All that said #7 BUDDY BE GOOD gets the lean expecting the same setup that pushed him past some of these the last time. He picked up his game dropping to this condition while the horse from Philly could need a race. I am done with my good friend but recent tease #4 DUTY CALLS. That makes him scary dangerous. Team Gorham snuck MEADOW WISE by me Monday ($16.60 out of that 2Feb race) – but they are a struggling 4/50 in 2016 . . . what is going on in that barn? winner ($11.20) circled the field to get up; NO FREE LUNCH was squeezed at the start and again in the stretch battling on for second – may have been the best of the bunch

Race 4 – #5 MR. DO is another interesting shipper. Trainer Gerald Brooks is having a good 2016 scattering his stock around the mid-east circuit. This horse beat a big field at Laurel and figures to be well meant as only the second runner Brooks has designated to MVR this season. provided some early thrills before fading off the board like a 30/1 shot should; eighth of nine

Race 5 – Joe Poole has had an amazing knack lately for getting his stock to repeat off of wins. #3 EL CHIVO VIEJO is today’s attempt to complete that feat. The Poole/Sarvis combo is striking at 36%. cruised with the early speed before fading on the rail; seventh

Race 6 – Morning line favorite #3 ANGEL’S KNIGHT appeared “much the best of the rest” 02Feb. The raw time posted by #2 SILVERINALLPOCKETS is an eye catcher for the lightly raced Pulpit but the track was generally faster that day than 02Feb and my wager on that winner AWARDING coming back went down in flames recently. winner ($3.40) found more energy when challenged after clearing

Race 7 – This gathering looks like non-winners-in-forever. #11 C O SISTER might shock them off the bench . . . C O SISTER scratched. #2 NANSEEYOUIN HEAVEN may be the most likely of those remaining to win the battle of attrition to the six furlong wire. #5 LOVE THE MINISTER and #9 REGARDING OPAL should leave early together. Neither has displayed much staying power lately. second; let the much stronger winner sneak through on the rail

Race 8 – #4 HIGH MYSTERY has been firing on all cylinders. I’m glad that he retains jockey Samuel Bermudez post claim; the cutback shouldn’t hurt. The other 8yo grey front runner #2 DENALI HOLY BULL will make it interesting when they kick free from the herd but the outside lean in the straight exacta goes 4/2. fourth; never got untracked; 9/2 exacta